Foot measuring device

ABSTRACT

A foot measuring device which generally consists of a bench and a slide moveably mounted on the bench. The bench includes an elongated stage having marking indicia on a flat side thereof. A buttress is formed integral with the stage, having a foot wall which is normal to the stage. The stage includes sloped keeper which is formed integral with one side of the stage. The keeper has a scarp which is adjacent to the buttress. The slide is held between the keeper and the buttress. In mounting the slide on the bench, the slide is slipped over the keeper.

United States Patent Rose 1 Dec. 17, 1974 [5 FOOT MEASURING DEVICE3,216,538 11/1965 Miller 189/36 [76] In ento Robert A. Rose, 3 5 C octauRd. 3,598,419 8/1971 Nlsper et a1. 277/219 P3105 Heights 60463 PrimaryExaminer-Harry N. Haroian [22] Filed: Mar. 9, 1970 AssistantExaminer-Charles E. Phillips [21] pp No: 17,362 Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Anthony S. Zummer [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 33/3 A A foot measuring device which generally consists of a Ilit. bench and a Slide moveablymounted on the bench. [5 8] of Search 33/3 143 29/407 The bench includesan elongated stage having marking indicia on a flat side thereof. Abuttress is formed inte- [56] References Clted gral with the stage,having a foot wall which is normal UNITED STATES PATENTS tothe stage.The stage includes sloped keeper which is 1,535,996 4/1925 Goldsmith33/3 A formed integral with one side of the stage. The keeper 1,684,5559/1928 Ritholz 33/143 M has a scarp which is adjacent to the buttress.The slide 2,037.646 4/1936 Wheeler A is held between the keeper and thebuttress. In mount- 2,593,385 4/1952 D1gate 33/3 A i h Slide on thebench the Slide i slipped over the 2,784,492 3/1957 Fratello 33/3 Akeeper 3,000,102 9/1961 Snyder 33/143 M 3,199,902 8/1965 Fierstine287/87 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENTEU HEB] 71974 S E Y. 5 E R0 79m MW W T E 5 Z 0 J R M FOOT MEASURING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF- THEINVENTION It is generally recognized that childrens feet do not grow ata uniform rate; but, rather, childrens feet will grow fast, then growthwill slow down, and then have another spurt in growth. Many parents, whoare desirous of giving their children the best available foot care, liketo measure the childrens feet periodically in order to determine whetherthe childrens feet require larger shoes, even before the shoes are wornout. Although.

there are many foot measuring devices available, many of these devicesare relatively expensive, especially for the small usage which theyreceive.

Many families still purchase their shoes by mail order for various andsundry reasons. The sizes of these shoes are often determined in variousways; by tracing the foot on paper, or by simply ordering the nextlarger size for children. Again, it is desirable for the individuals whoorder shoes by mail to be able to determine accurately the appropriateshoe size by a relatively inexpensive device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to theconstruction of an inexpensive foot measuring device so that persons mayreadily purchase the device; and in the event that it should becomelost, there would be no substantial economic hardship.

The present foot measuring device generally consists of a molded plasticbench, which has a molded plastic slide mounted on the bench. The benchhas a marking indicia added thereto to indicate an appropriatedimension, and a converter is provided to translate the indicateddimensions to appropriate shoe sizes. The parts of the device are easilyand economically manufactured, and the dimensions are accurate since themarking indicia is added to the formed surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a footmeasuring device embodying the herein-disclosed invention, showing aslide disengaged from a bench;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the foot measuring device shown in FIG. 1, butwith the slide mounted on the bench;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the foot measuring device shown inFIG. 2; and

. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on Line 4-4 of- FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, aspecific embodiment of the herein-disclosed invention is shown therein.A foot measuring device embodying the present invention is generallyindicated by numeral and consists of two basic parts, to-wit, a bench l2and a slide 14.

The bench 12 is a single molded unitary part which is molded fromhigh-impact polystyrene. The bench consists of an elongated stage 16with a buttress 18 formed integral-with the stage adjacent to one endthereof. The stage 16 generally includes an elongated flat slab 20,which has an aperture 22 formed in the end opposite the end having thebuttress 18. The flat slab has its opposed ends rounded for safety.Adjacent to the aperture 22 is a keeper 24 on one side of the slab. Thekeeper 24 has an inclined upper wall 26, which blends with the slab atits lower end and extends upward toward the buttress forming a scarp 28adjacent to the buttress, as may be best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.- A pairof guide rails 30 are formed integral with the slab on the other sidethereof.

The slab 20 has marking indicia 32 on the flat side thereof between thekeeper 24 and the buttress 18. In this instance, the marking indicia 32.is silk-screened onto the slab. The numerals which constitute a portionof the marking indicia 32 are not shown in the drawing. Themarkingindicia may be added by any convenient means, such as, by making themarks on a carrier and placing the carrier and marking indicia onto theslab, as by means of decalcomania. It may be appreciated that inasmuchas almost all plastics have a tendency to shrink during a moldingoperation, the most economical method of producing a moldedplastic partwith a marking indicia contained thereon, which marking indicia has anextremely high degree of accuracy, is first to mold the part, allow thepart to cool to room temperature, and then apply the marking indicia.Thus, the marking indicia is not an integral part of the bench, butrather is added to the surface of the slab.

The buttress 18 includes a foot wall 34, which is normal to the slab 20and formed integral therewith. The foot wall has a pair of side walls 36formed integral therewith. The side walls are also formed integral withthe slab 20 to provide a reinforcement for the foot wall 34.

The slide 14 is also made of a molded high-impact polystyrene. The slide14 generally includes a saddle 40 having an indicator wall 42 formedintegral therewith and normal to the slab 20. A pair of ribs 44 isformed integral with the indicator wall and the saddle 40.

The saddle 40 includes a flat base 46 which has the indicator wallformed integral therewith and substantially even with one edge thereof,asmay be seen in FIG. 3. The saddle also includes a pair of side walls48 which are perpendicular to the base, and a pair of ears 50 are formedintegral with the side walls and extend toward each other.

The distance between the ears 50 and the base 46 is slightly less thanthe thickness of the slab 20 plus the maximum height of the keeper 24.The minimum distance between the ears 50 is slightly greater than themaximum distance between the outer sides of the guide rails 30 so thatthe slide is kept substantially aligned with the slab, and thereby theindicator wall 42 remains substantially perpendicular to the length ofslab 20.

In order to mount the slide 14 onto the bench 12, it is only necessaryto place the saddle onto that portion of the stage between the end ofthe stage and the keeper with the indicator wall 42 facing the buttressl8 and to move the slide toward the buttress. The cars engage the slab20 as the base engages the inclined wall 26 of the keeper. However, theresilience of the parts allows the saddle to slide over the keeper 24.Once the slide passes over the keeper, the parts spring back into theirnormal position, and the slide 14 is locked between the buttress 18 andthe keeper 24 since the keeper 24 has a scarp 28 facing the buttress 18,which does not allow the slide to pass over the keeper.

The foot measuring device is used in a customary manner by placing theheel of the foot against the foot wall 34 of the buttress and moving theslide until the indicator wall 42 touches the toe to determine thelength of the foot. The width is also measured by placing the footbetween the buttress and the indicator wall and noting the dimension.The dimensions are then converted to shoe sizes by an appropriateindicating device, which is mounted between the guide rails 30 on theslab 20, which indicating device is not shown herein.

From the foregoing description, it may be readily appreciated that theinstant foot measuring device may be readily and convenientlymanufactured in view of the fact that the bench 12 may be manufacturedfrom a single molded plastic part with indicia added to the slab. Theslide 14 is also a single molded plastic part which may be readilyassembled onto the bench. Although a specific description has been madeherein, it is readily apparent that those skilled in the art may makevarious modifications and changes without departing from the spirit andscope of the present invention. It is to be expressly understood thatthe instant invention is limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A foot measuring device comprising, in combination, an elongatedresilient stage having marking indicia on one surface thereof, abuttress formed integral with one end of the stage, a keeper formedintegral with the stage adjacent to the end opposed to the end havingthe buttress, said keeper having a sloped wall and having a scarp, saidsloped wall of the keeper facing away from the buttress, said scarp ofthe keeper facing the buttress, a slide moveably mounted on the stagebetween the keeper and the buttress, said slide having a resilientsaddle engageable with the stage, said saddle having a base adjacent tothe stage and being cooperative with the marking indicia on the stage, apair of opposed side walls formed integral with the base and adjacent toopposite elongated sides of the stage, and an ear formed integral witheach of the side walls and extending toward the other ear, the distancebetween the base and each of the ears is less than the height of thestage plus the maximum height of the keeper for holding the slidebetween the keeper and the buttress, said distance is sufficiently greatto allow the saddle to be forced along the sloped wall of the keeper todeform temporarily the saddle and the stage to allow the saddle to passover the keeper for slideably locked assembly of the slide and thestage.

2. A foot measuring device as defined in claim 1 including a pair ofguide rails formed integral with the stage, wherein each of the ears isengageable with a respective guide rail for guiding the slide relativeto the stage.

3. A foot measuring device as defined in claim 1 wherein the buttressincludes a foot wall formed integral with and normal to the stage and apair of side walls formed integral with the foot wall and with thestage.

4. A foot measuring device as defined in claim 1, including a pair ofguide rails formed integral with the stage for engagement with the earsto guide the slide, an indicator wall formed integral with one edge ofthe base adjacent to the buttress, and a rib formed integral with thebase and the indicator wall.

5. A foot measuring device as defined in claim 1 including an indicatorwall formed integral with the edge of the base adjacent to the buttress,and a rib formed integral with the base and the indicator wall.

l l =l 22x3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GER FICATE 0F CQRRECHQN Pater;3,854,212 Dated December 17, 1974 Inventor(s) Robert A. Rose It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patentand that saidLetters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the inventor's address, "Choctau" should be --Chocta w- In theAbstract, Line 6, after "includes" insertv -+e.-.-.

si nedend sealed this 11th day or Februa y 1975.

(SEAL) Attest: I

C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON I Commissioner" of Patents AttestingOfficer and,TrademaIikS

1. A foot measuring device comprising, in combination, an elongatedresilient stage having marking indicia on one surface thereof, abuttress formed integral with one end of the stage, a keeper formedintegral with the stage adjacent to the end opposed to the end havingthe buttress, said keeper having a sloped wall and having a scarp, saidsloped wall of the keeper facing away from the buttress, said scarp ofthe keeper facing the buttress, a slide moveably mounted on the stagebetween the keeper and the buttress, said slide having a resilientsaddle engageable with the stage, said saddle having a base adjacent tothe stage and being cooperative with the marking indicia on the stage, apair of opposed side walls formed integral with the base and adjacent toopposite elongated sides of the stage, and an ear formed integral witheach of the side walls and extending toward the other ear, the distancebetween the base and each of the ears is less than the height of thestage plus the maximum height of the keeper for holding the slidebetween the keeper and the buttress, said distance is sufficiently greatto allow the saddle to be forced along the sloped wall of the keeper todeform temporarily the saddle and the stage to allow the saddle to passover the keeper for slideably locked assembly of the slide and thestage.
 2. A foot measuring device as defined in claim 1 including a pairof guide rails formed integral with the stage, wherein each of the earsis engageable with a respective guide rail for guiding the sliderelative to the stage.
 3. A foot measuring device as defined in claim 1wherein the buttress includes a foot wall formed integral with andnormal to the stage and a pair of side walls formed integral with thefoot wall and with the stage.
 4. A foot measuring device as defined inclaim 1, including a pair of guide rails formed integral with the stagefor engagement with the ears to guide the slide, an indicator wallformed integral with one edge of the base adjacent to the buttress, anda rib formed integral with the base and the indicator wall.
 5. A footmeasuring device as defined in claim 1 including an indicator wallformed integral with the edge of the base adjacent to the buttress, anda rib formed integral with the base and the indicator wall.